Normal Anatomical Variations of Maxillary Sinus Septa using Computerized Tomography from Sokoto Northwestern Nigeria

Background/Aim: The maxillary sinus is the largest paranasal sinus and represents a complex anatomical structure with significant inter‑individual variation. Computerized Tomography (CT) in the assessment of the maxillary sinus yields much more information. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence, number and location of maxillary sinus septa using CT. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty subjects (79 males and 51 females), between 20–80 years, with normal maxillary sinus CT anatomy, from head CT scans carried out at the Radiology Department of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto, over a period of 5 years, were studied. Head CT scans were obtained from the local data base of the CT machine and back up compact disc from the CT library. Images were taken with Neusoft Dual Slide Helical CT machine, and films were viewed on the computer monitor. Septa were identified as bony projections from the sinus walls into its cavity on axial and coronal slides. Results: In this study, septa were present in 14.23% (37 septa out of 158) males sinuses, while in females, 10.34% (27 out of 102) had septa. The overall prevalence of maxillary sinus septa was 24.62%. Conclusion: Maxillary sinus septa appear common and are capable of complicating sinus membrane surgeries. CT may be useful in surgical evaluation and planning.